Sheet treating apparatus



Jan. 3, 1939. A. LANGSNER SHEET TREATING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 9, 1938 2 SheetsSheet 1 IN V ENTOR. izgsyzez' A T I JRN BT5 7 may;

Jan. 3, 1939. LANGSNER 2,142,318

SHEET TREATING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 9, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYQE Patented Jan. 3, 1939 UNITED STATES SHEET TREATING APPARATUS Adolph Langaner, Chicago, 111., amignor to Eugene Dletzgen 00., Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Application February 9, 1938, Serial No. 189,666

'lClaims.

My invention relates in general to sheet treating apparatus and has more particular reference to a simplified machine for transporting, while at the same time treating, sheet material with a desired treating medium which is usually a liquid; the invention having specific useful application in the treatment of light sensitive material with a liquid developing agent.

An important object of the invention is to provide simplified apparatus for applying a treating medium to sheet material, a by passing the material in contact with the surface of a roller coated with the treating inedium.

Another important object of the invention is to provide improved means for causing the sheet material to pass in substantially uniform contact throughout its area with a treating roller substantially uniformly coated with the treating medium, including means to drive the sheet feeding mechanism continuously from a suitable source of power and simplified means for rapidly releasing the material being treated from the treating roller, in case of accidental jamming; a further object being to arrange the sheet feeding mechanism so that upon release thereof the treating roller is automatically disconnected from the driving means.

Another important object is to provide mechanism of the character mentioned, wherein the treating roller is not directly or positively driven by the motivating power source; a further object of the invention being to arrange the feeding and treating mechanism as a series of rollers, including at least one roller which is drivingly connected with the power source, an independent sheet-treating roller, and" at least one sheetholding and power-transmitting roller shiftably mounted and adapted normally to frictionally engage the driven and treating roller, whereby to insure engagement of the material being treated with the driven and with the treating rollers, and at the same time to provide a driving connection between the driven and treating rollers, which connection may be readily interrupted merely by shifting the holding roller from its normal operating position.

Another important object is to provide a mechanism of the character mentioned, wherein the treating roller may be readily removed from operating position for cleansing, repair or replacement, without interfering with any positive driving connection.

Another important object is to provide a mech anism of the character mentioned, which is 5; adapted to receive sheet material of any thickspect to the mounting which carries the driven and treating rollers, whereby said guiding means, as well as the stripping means, may be shifted as a unit from operating position with respect to the driving and treating rollers to release the material being treated and to simultaneously disconnect the treating roller from the source of driving power; a further object being to support the guiding rollers and also the stripping means with a slight, though appreciable, amount of play in the tilting frame to permit the same to align themselves with respect to the treating roller when the tilting frame is moved to the operating position, whereby more particularly. the guiding rollers are self-adjusting to accommodate sheet material of any width in the apparatus and to assure proper stripping relationship of the stripping means upon the treating roller throughout its entire width.

Another important object is to provide a mechanism of the character mentioned, including means for applying a substantially uniform film of a suitable treating medium on the treating roller, as by means of a bath of the treating medium in which the treating roller or one or more auxiliary wetting or transfer rollers having surface contact with the treating roller is at least partially submerged; a further object being to provide improved means for maintaining the bath at a desired level with respect to the treating roller, as by providing for the continuous replenishment of the treating medium in the bath.

Another important object is to provide for continuously replenishing the bath of treating medium in an apparatus of the character mentioned, including a charging funnel adapted to receive the mouth of a storage container, the charging funnel being mounted in the apparatus in conveniently accessible position at an elevation to support the mouth of the storage. container substantially in line with the desired level to be maintained in the bath, the invention additionally contemplating means for detachably mounting the storage container in operating position with respect to the funnel.

Numerous other objects, advantages and inherent functions of the invention will become apparent as the same is more fully understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, dis- 'closes a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Referring to the drawings,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of sheet-treating apparatus embodying my present invention;

Figure 2 is a similar perspective view showing the tilting frame and the guiding and stripping means carried thereby, the frame being shown in released position; and

Figures 3, 4, and 6 are sectional views taken substantially along the lines 3-3, 6-6 and 5- 5, in Figure 1, and line 66 in Figure 5, respectively.

To illustrate the invention I have shown on the drawings a sheet-treating apparatus comprising a main frame |3 and a tilting frame l5 carrying rollers for receiving and transporting sheet material through the apparatus, while at the same time applying to the material as it is carried along a suitable treating medium supplied from a source Hi.

The main frame l3 preferably comprises a pair of spaced-apart end pieces l9 having feet 2|, the end pieces being supported and rigidly braced in spaced-apart position by means of connecting rods 23 fastened therebetween in any suitable fashion, preferably by bolting the rods onto the end pieces l9.

The end piecesmay be arranged to support a roll of sheet material to be treated. This, of course, may be accomplished in any suitable or convenient fashion, although I prefer 'to form the end pieces as shown, with an inclined notch 25 in the forward edges of the end pieces. These notches are adapted removably to receive an axle 27 on which may be rolledand conveniently stored a quantity of sheet material 29.

The end pieces |9 are formed with journals for receiving a driven roller 3| which extends between the substantially midpoint of the upper edges of the end pieces. This roller 3| has an axle projecting outwardly of one of the end pieces |9, and means, such as'the reduction gearing 33, is preferably provided for connecting the projecting shaft of the roller 3| with a suitable source of driving power which may comprise an electric motor 35 suitably mounted as on a bracket 31 secured to the end piece through which the projecting shaft of the roller 3| extends.

The end pieces also are formed with bearings for a followingroller 39 positioned immediately above and parallel with respect to the driven roller 3|, the bearings of the roller 39 being formed with suffioient play to permit the roller 39 to rest by gravity upon the roller 3|, the rollers being adapted to separate to permit sheet material of any width to pass therebetween;

An inclined, preferably sheet metal plate 4| forming a sheet-feeding surface is secured between the end pieces |9 along the upper edges thereof in front of the rollers 3| and 39, so that material to be treated may be pushed across the feeding surface of the plate GI and guided between the rollers 3| and 39. The material thus fed may be a continuous strip drawn from the roll of material 29 or may be individual sheets, manually or otherwise delivered across the table 4| to thefeeding rollers 3| and 33.

amaaie Rearwardly of these feeding rollers the end pieces W are formed with notches 43 in the upper edges of the pieces l9. The notches 43 are in alignment transversely of the frame i3 and serve to receive the axles 415 projecting at the ends of a treating roller ll which is thus supported for rotation in the main frame in a fashion permitting ready removal of the roller A? from mounting position by merely lifting it upwardly to raise the axles 35 from the slots 13.

Beneath the roller All the frame carries means forming a trough 39 adapted to receive a preferably liquid sheet-treating medium 5| which is maintained at a desired level in the trough 49.

Any suitable arrangement may be employed to apply the treating medium as a substantially uniform film upon the treating roller 41, and in the illustrated embodiment this is accomplished by positioning the trough d9 so that the lower portions of the roller M are immersed in the bath of liquid 5|. To this end, the pieces l9 are formed on their inwardly facing surfaces with support means 53 adapted to receive the opposite ends of the trough 49 and support the same in the desired position with respect to the roller 41!.

I also provide means for continuously delivering the liquid-treating medium 5| to the trough in order to maintain a desired liquid level therein,

and, as shown, the trough is provided with a charging conduit 55 opening, preferably, into the bottom of the trough #59 and extending thence through a suitable opening formed in one of the end pieces I9. Outwardly of said end piece the conduit 5|is connected in any suitable fashion The end piece i9 also carries a bracket 65 45 forming a clip for receiving and supporting the supply source I! on the main frame of the device. The supply source, of course, may have any suitable form, but I prefer to employ a common bottle, the support clip 65 being adapted to firmly receive the lower portions of the bottle in order to support the same with its neck extending in the funnel 51 inposition resting upon the shoulder 63. A container, such as a bottle supported in this fashion, will maintain the desired level of liquid in the trough 49 as long as the bottle itself contains any liquid. When the bottle becomes empty, it may easily be removed from the clip 65 andreplaced with a full bottle without interrupting the operation of the apparatus.

Material delivered between the rollers 3| and 39 will be carried thence and delivered into con-- tact with the roller 41. Since there is no direct positive connection between the roller 41 and the driving means 35, the roller 4T may be quickly and easily removed from operating position for the purpose of cleaning the same or for repair or replacement. When the apparatus is in operation, however, I desire to connect the roller 41 maintained in substantially uniform contact with 75.

the treating roller 41 during its passage thereover, I form the tilting frame IS with a sheetguiding roller 61 which, when the frame is in the elevated position shown in Figure 2, is disconnected from the driven roller 3| as well as the treating roller 41, the frame being arranged, when in elevated position, to support the roller 61 in a position permitting the roller 4'! to be removed from mounted position for the purposes heretofore mentioned. The tilting frame l5, however, may be lowered to a position in which the roller 61 rests firmly upon the surfaces of the rollers 3| and 41, and thereby provides a driving con-- nection between the driven roller 3| and the treating roller 41. The roller 61 also functions when in operating position to direct the material being treated from the roller 3| and onto the roller 41.

I also prefer to provide an additional roller 69 in the tilting frame l5, said roller 69 being parallel and adjacent with respect to the roller El and in position to rest upon the surface of the roller 49 when the frame is in operating position. The roller 69 serves to maintain the material being treated in contact with the treating roller throughout a substantial area of said treating roller.

Since the treating medium Si is preferably and usually a liquid, the sheet material may have a tendency to adhere upon the surface of the treating roller. To prevent this tendency from carrying the sheet material around the roller and through the bath #9, I provide stripping means'l The stripping means comprises a plurality of spaced lifting fingers adapted to bear upon the surface of the roller 41 at intervals throughout the width of the treating roller, in order to insure separation of the sheet material being treated at the termination of the period of treating contact on the roller. Since I wish to provide for the ready removal and replacement of the roller ll for the reasons heretofore stated,

I arrange the spaced fingers comprising the lifting means in the tilting frame I so that these fingers may be entirely released and removed from the roller 41 when the tilting frame is elevated. I a

To this end the tilting frame I! comprises a shaft 13 which is journalled at its opposite ends in bearings formed in the upper, rearward corner portions of the end elements is, the opposed ends of the shaft I3 preferably projecting outwardly of the end pieces I! and receiving each an end member I! of the frame Ii. These end members I! provide bearings for the rollers 81 and 33, and also are interconnected by means ofabarllsecuredinplaceonthemembersll in any suitable fashion, as by cotter-pins I.

The fingers forming the lifting means 1| preferably comprise sheet metal stampings Ii having pointed tips 83 at one end thereof for the purpose of riding upon the surface of the roller 41 to separate the sheet material from the roller when it reaches said pointed ends of the fingers II. The ends ofthe fingers 8| opposite from the sheet lifting Portions are notched, as at 33, to receive the shaft 13 of the tilting frame, said shaft beinasrooved at intervals, as at 81, to receive the notched ends II of the sheet-lifting fingers and to prevent displacement of said notched ends axially on the shaft ll.

Between their opposed ends the fingers ll are provided with openings, through which the shaft extends, in order to maintain the fingers ll inproperalignmentintheframeandtoraise the same from the roller 1 when the frame is moved to the elevated or inactive position. The fingers 8|, however, are relatively loosely mounted on the rod 'Il in order that when the frame is in depressed or operating position the pointed ends of the fingers may rest upon the surface of the treating roller I! in order that the fingers may each be self-aligning and press upon the roller under the influence of its own weight. In order to facilitate manipulation of the tilting frame IS, the end pieces 15 thereof may be formed with handles 9|.

The rollers 3|, 39, 41, 61 and 89 may, of course, be of any suitable or convenient construction. I prefer, however, to form the rollers 3|, 3!, 61 and 69 as solid cylindrical rods with'stub axles 92, preferably of metal secured to the opposite ends of the rollers in any suitable or convenient manner, as by forming teeth on the stub axles and driving such formed portions into sockets formed in the opposed ends of the rollers. The treating roller, however, which is of relatively large diametral dimension, preferably comprises a. cylindrical roller element of any suitable material, such as Bakelite, the opposite ends of the cylindrical element being fitted with preferably aluminum fittings forming stub axles. These fittings, as shown, preferably comprise an end 93 formed with surface fiutes 95 adapted to be forced into the end of the cylindrical member to form a splined connection therewith.

The end fitting adjacent the fluted portion is formed preferably with an annular collar 91 adapted to abut the end of the cylindrical element in which the fitting is mounted. Outwardly of the collar 91 the fitting is preferably of restricted diameter forming a groove adapted to receive the end edge of the trough 49, the fitting beyond the groove being formed as a stub axle 99 for mounting in the main frame i 3.

It will be noted that the axles at the opposed ends of the rollers 3|, 33, 61 and Sll'are generally similar to the axle fittings utilized at the ends of the treating roller 41. It is, of course, essential that the medial portions of the rollers 61 and 69 actually contact with the medial portions of the driven and treating rollers. In fact, I prefer to separate the rollers slightly, as shown, by providing friction bands "I upon the end fittings 32 of the rollers 61 and is. These friction bands may be of rubber-like material or other suitable friction material having good wearing qualities, and they are adapted to rat upon the shoulders 9| formed on the end fittings of the treating roller when the tilting frame is in the lowered or operating position, in order to drlvingly connect the rollers 61 and 6! with the treating roller and support the surfaces of the suiding elements in position slightly spaced with respect to the surface of the treating roller. The friction bands I also serve, when the frame II is in operating podtion, to frictionally connect the roller I! with the driven roller 3| since the friction bands of the roller 81 are arranged to ride upon the end fittings 32 of the driven rollu.

The sheet-treating apparatus of my present invention is relatively simple and inexpensive to make. It is, however, positive and automatic in action and will te sheets of any thickness, provided the materialis sufiiciently flexible to travel the somewhat serpentine path between the rollers 3|, ll, 61 and I. The apparatus also is simple from an operating standpoint, and affords, among others, the advantage ofareadilyremovahletroatingrollerl'lwhich! inspection, cleaning, repair or replacement. At

the same time, the apparatus provides guiding rollers for insuring that the material being treated travels the desired pathway across the treating roller, and also simple and inexpensive, yet positively acting, stripping means for insuring the release of the material from the treating roller after the completion of the treating process. These stripping fingers, however, do not in any way interfere with the ready removability of the treating roller for the purpose heretofore mentioned.

The driving and guiding roller is self-aligning and not only insures the delivery of the sheet material to the treating roller, but also insures that the treating roller is driven at the'same peripheral speed as the sheet-feeding roller 3|.

The apparatus also provides for a continuous and ample supply of the liquid treating medium ill by virtue of the improved means for maintaining a desired liquid level in the trough 49 from g a remote and readily renewable source of supply l1.

It is thought that the invention and numerous of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it is obvious that numerous changes may be made in the form, construction, and arrangement of the several parts of the illustrated apparatus without departing from the spirit or scope of my invention or sacrificing any of its attendant advantages, the forms herein described being merely for the purpose of illustrating the-invention.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

1. Sheet treating apparatus comprising a main frame, a driven roller on said frame for delivering sheet material along a predetermined path, a treating roller mounted in said frame and spaced from the driven roller in position to receive sheet material from the driven roller, said treating roll er being readily removable from said frame, and a guiding roller shiftable on said frame and adapted normally to engage the driven and the treating roller whereby to guide sheet material from the driven roller to the treating roller and to form a driving connection with the driven roller and with the treating roller, said guiding roller serving also to retain the treating roller in operative position on said frame ,andbeing shiftable to drivingly disconnect the driven :and treating; rollers and to a release said treating :rollerfor removal from the frame. q

2. Sheet treatin iapparatus comprising a main frame, a driven roller onjsaid frame for delivering sheet material along a predetermined path, a

treating roller mounted in said frame and spaced irom the driven roller in position; to receive sheet material from the driven roller, saidtreating-rollbeing -;readily removable from said frame, a guiding rollershiftable on said frame and adapted normally to engage the driven andthe treating rollers whereby to guide sheet material .from the driven to the treating roller and to form a drivingconnection withthe driven. roller and. with the treating roller, anda holding roller, remote 2 from the guiding roller in positiomnormally to cooperate with the surface; of the treating roller to: retain vsheet material thereon during treat-,

' the frame and being shiftablefto; release; said treating roller for removal from said frame and to drivingly disconnect the driven and treating rollers.

3. Sheet treating apparatus comprising a main frame, a driven roller on said frame fordelivering sheet material along a predetermined path, a treating roller mounted in said frame and spaced from the driven roller in position to receive sheet material from the driven roller, said treating roller being readily removable from said frame, and a guiding roller shiftable on said frame and adapted normally to engage the driven and the treating rollers whereby to guide sheet material from the driven roller to the treating roller and to form a driving connection with the driven roller and with the treating roller, said guiding roller serving also to retain the treating roller in operative position on said frame and being shiftable to drivingly disconnect the driven and. treating rollers and to release said treating roller for removal from the frame, wherein at least one of said rollers comprise solid, cylindrical elements having separate fittings splined in sockets formed in the opposed er being, readily removable from said frame, and

a guiding roller shiftable on said frame and adapted normally to engage the driven and the treating rollers whereby to guide sheet material from the driven roller to the treating rollerand to form a driving connection with the driven roller and with the treating roller, said guiding roller serving also to retain the treating roller in operative position on said frame and being shiftable to drivingly disconnect the driven and treating rollers and to release said treating roller for removal from the frame, wherein at least one of said rollers comprises a cylindrical shell element having separate fittings splined in sockets formed in the opposed ends of said members, said fittings having projecting portions forming axles.

- 5. Sheet treating apparatus comprising a main frame, a driven roller on said frame for delivering sheet material along a predetermined path, a treating; roller mounted in said frame and spaced from the driven roller in position to re- 7 ceive sheet material from the driven roller, said I treating roller being readily removable from said frame, and. a guiding roller shiftable on said frameand adapted normally to engage the driven and-the treating rollers whereby to guide sheet material from the driven rollerto the treating roller and to form a driving connection with the drivenroller and with the treating roller, said guiding roller serving also to retain the treating roller inoperative position on said frame and being shiftable to'drivingly disconnect the driven and treating rollers and to release said treating roller forfremoval from the frame, the driving connection between the driven, treating and guiding rollers comprising bands fric'tionally'secured on and at theopposite ends of said guiding roller in position to form frictional driving engagement with the driven and treating rollers at the ends thereof when said guiding roller is in operative position.

6. Sheet treating apparatus comprising a main frame, a. driven roller on said frame for delivering sheet ,material along a predetermined path, a

treating roller'mounted in said frame in position .ends of said members, said fittings having proto receive sheet material from the driven roller, said treating roller being readily removable from said frame, and a guiding roller shiftable on said frame and adapted normally to engage the driven and the treating rollerswhereby to guide sheet material from the driven roller to the treating roller and to form a driving connection between the driven and the treating rollers, said guiding roller serving also to retain the treating roller in operative position on said frame and being shiftable to drivingly disconnect the driven and treating rollers and to release said treating roller for removal from the frame, and driving means on at least one of said rollers in position to provide frictional driving engagement between the several rollers when said guiding roller is in operative po-' aition, said treating and guiding rollers being drivingly actuated only from said driven roller.

'7. Sheet treating apparatus comprising a main frame, a driven roller on said frame for deliverin: sheet material along a predetermined path, a treating roller mounted in said frame in position to receive sheet material from the driven roller, said treating roller being readily removable from said frame, and a guiding roller shiftable on said frame and adapted normally to engage the driven and the treating rollers whereby to guide sheet material from the driven roller to the treating roller and to form a driving connection between the driven and the treating roller, said guiding roller serving also to retain the treating roller in operative position on said frame and being shiftable to drivingly disconnect the driven and treating rollers and to release said treating roller for removal from the frame, means on the ends of said rollers forming projecting axles, and driving means on the said axles of at least one of said rollers in position to provide frictional driving engagement between the axles of the several rollers when said guiding roller is in operative position, said treating roller and said guiding roller being drivingly actuated only from said driven roller.

ADOLPH LANGSNER. 

